Printing press for numbering and varnishing of security documents, including banknotes

Abstract

There is described a sheet-fed or web-fed printing press for numbering and varnishing of security documents, including banknotes, comprising: —a numbering group ( 02 ) comprising at least one numbering unit ( 21, 22 ) for numbering printed material in the form of individual sheets or successive portions of a continuous web carrying multiple security imprints; and—a varnishing group ( 03; 03 *) located downstream of the numbering group ( 02 ) for applying varnish onto recto and verso sides of the printed material, the varnishing group ( 03; 03 *) comprising at least a first varnishing unit ( 31 ) disposed above a path of the printed material to apply varnish on the recto side of the printed material and at least a second varnishing unit ( 32 ) disposed below the path of the printed material to apply varnish on the verso side of the printed material.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sheet-fed printing press for numbering and varnishing of security documents, including banknotes, comprising:
 a numbering group comprising at least one numbering unit for numbering printed material in the form of individual sheets carrying multiple security imprints; and 
 a varnishing group located downstream of the numbering group for applying varnish onto recto and verso sides of the printed material, the varnishing group comprising at least a first varnishing unit disposed above a path of the printed material to apply varnish on the recto side of the printed material and at least a second varnishing unit disposed below the path of the printed material to apply varnish on the verso side of the printed material, 
 wherein the printing press is adapted for processing printed material in the form of individual sheets and further comprises: 
 a sheet-feeder for feeding individual sheets in succession to the numbering group; and 
 a sheet-delivery system for collecting varnished sheets coming from the varnishing group, 
 wherein the numbering group is coupled to the varnishing group by means of an intermediate sheet gripper system comprising endless chains and space-apart gripper bars mounted transversely to the path of the sheets, between the endless chains, for holding the sheets by a leading edge of the sheets and transporting the sheets from the numbering group to the varnishing group. 
 
     
     
       2. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the numbering group further comprises a movable carriage that can be retracted away from or be coupled to a stationary part of the numbering group. 
     
     
       3. The printing press as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the movable carriage is a movable inking carriage. 
     
     
       4. The printing press as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate sheet gripper system runs below the movable carriage. 
     
     
       5. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the printing press is provided with at least one transfer cylinder or drum located between the varnishing group and the sheet-delivery system, which at least one transfer cylinder or drum is designed as a chill roller to cool down the printed material or as an inspection cylinder or drum for carrying out inspection of the recto or verso side of the printed material. 
     
     
       6. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the numbering group and varnishing group are constructed as modular groups that can easily be decoupled from one another. 
     
     
       7. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the numbering group and varnishing group are constructed as modular groups that can easily be decoupled from one another and wherein transfer of a sheet to the numbering group is performed by means of a sheet transfer cylinder or drum cooperating with a transport cylinder of the numbering group and wherein transfer of a sheet from the intermediate sheet gripper system to the varnishing group is performed at a location which corresponds in height to a location where the sheet is transferred from the transfer cylinder or drum to the transport cylinder of the numbering group. 
     
     
       8. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , wherein numbering is carried out in the numbering group on a recto side of the printed material and wherein the numbered printed material is transferred directly to the varnishing group for varnishing of the recto side of the printed material by the at least first varnishing unit and, immediately after varnishing of the recto side, for varnishing of the verso side of the printed material by the at least second varnishing unit. 
     
     
       9. The printing press as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the numbering group is adapted to number the printed material on the recto side thereof with at least one ink selected from the group consisting of oxidative solvent-based inks and UV-curable inks. 
     
     
       10. The printing press as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the recto side of the printed material is not dried before being varnished by the at least first varnishing unit. 
     
     
       11. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least first and second varnishing units are flexographic varnishing units each comprising an anilox roller inked by an associated ink chamber, which anilox roller cooperates with a flexographic forme cylinder. 
     
     
       12. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an inspection group placed upstream of the numbering group for carrying out inspection of the printed material and determining occurrence of defects affecting the quality of the printed material prior to numbering and varnishing. 
     
     
       13. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate UV-curing unit for curing the printed material, which intermediate UV-curing unit is located along the path of the printed material between the numbering group and varnishing group. 
     
     
       14. The printing press as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the printing press is configured such that the at least first varnishing unit is accessible by an operator from a first working space located upstream of the varnishing group, between the numbering group and the varnishing group, and such that the at least second varnishing unit is accessible by an operator from a second working space located downstream of the varnishing group. 
     
     
       15. A sheet-fed printing press for numbering and varnishing of security documents, including banknotes, comprising:
 a sheet-feeder for feeding in succession printed material in the form of individual sheets carrying multiple security imprints; 
 a numbering group comprising at least one numbering unit for numbering the sheets; 
 a varnishing group located downstream of the numbering group for applying varnish onto recto and verso sides of the sheets, the varnishing group comprising at least a first varnishing unit for applying varnish on the recto side of the sheets and at least a second varnishing unit for applying varnish on the verso side of the sheets; and 
 a sheet-delivery system for collecting varnished sheets coming from the varnishing group, 
 wherein the numbering group is coupled to the varnishing group by means of an intermediate sheet gripper system comprising endless chains and space-apart gripper bars mounted transversely to the path of the sheets, between the endless chains, for holding the sheets by a leading edge of the sheets and transporting the sheets from the numbering group to the varnishing group. 
 
     
     
       16. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the numbering group further comprises a movable carriage that can be retracted away from or be coupled to a stationary part of the numbering group. 
     
     
       17. The printing press as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the movable carriage is a movable inking carriage. 
     
     
       18. The printing press as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate sheet gripper system runs below the movable carriage. 
     
     
       19. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the printing press is provided with at least one transfer cylinder or drum located between the varnishing group and the sheet-delivery system, which at least one transfer cylinder or drum is designed as a chill roller to cool down the printed material or as an inspection cylinder or drum for carrying out inspection of the recto or verso side of the printed material. 
     
     
       20. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the numbering group and varnishing group are constructed as modular groups that can easily be decoupled from one another. 
     
     
       21. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the numbering group and varnishing group are constructed as modular groups that can easily be decoupled from one another and wherein transfer of a sheet to the numbering group is performed by means of a sheet transfer cylinder or drum cooperating with a transport cylinder of the numbering group and wherein transfer of a sheet from the intermediate sheet gripper system to the varnishing group is performed at a location which corresponds in height to a location where the sheet is transferred from the transfer cylinder or drum to the transport cylinder of the numbering group. 
     
     
       22. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein numbering is carried out in the numbering group on a recto side of the printed material and wherein the numbered printed material is transferred directly to the varnishing group for varnishing of the recto side of the printed material by the at least first varnishing unit and, immediately after varnishing of the recto side, for varnishing of the verso side of the printed material by the at least second varnishing unit. 
     
     
       23. The printing press as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the numbering group is adapted to number the printed material on the recto side thereof with at least one selected from the group consisting of oxidative solvent-based inks and UV-curable inks. 
     
     
       24. The printing press as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the recto side of the printed material is not dried before being varnished by the at least first varnishing unit. 
     
     
       25. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the varnishing group comprises:
 a first cylinder or drum located below the path of the printed material and cooperating with the at least first varnishing unit which is disposed above the path of the printed material; and 
 a second cylinder or drum located above the path of the printed material and cooperating with the at least second varnishing unit which is disposed below the path of the printed material, 
 the second cylinder or drum being located immediately after the first cylinder or drum to ensure direct transfer of the printed material from the first cylinder or drum to the second cylinder or drum. 
 
     
     
       26. The printing press as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the first and second cylinders or drums are two-segment cylinders or drums. 
     
     
       27. The printing press as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the varnishing group further comprises:
 a third varnishing unit which cooperates with the first cylinder or drum and is located immediately after the first varnishing unit, and 
 a fourth varnishing unit which cooperates with the second cylinder or drum and is located immediately after the second varnishing unit. 
 
     
     
       28. The printing press as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising at least a first drying unit cooperating with the first cylinder or drum for drying the recto side of the printed material following varnishing by the at least first varnishing unit prior to transfer of the printed material to the second cylinder or drum and at least a second drying unit cooperating with the second cylinder or drum for drying the verso side of the printed material following varnishing by the at least second varnishing unit. 
     
     
       29. The printing press as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the at least first and second varnishing units are designed to apply UV-curable varnish on the recto and verso sides of the printed material and wherein the first and second drying units are UV-curing units. 
     
     
       30. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the at least first and second varnishing units are flexographic varnishing units each comprising an anilox roller inked by an associated ink chamber, which anilox roller cooperates with a flexographic forme cylinder. 
     
     
       31. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising an inspection group placed upstream of the numbering group for carrying out inspection of the printed material and determining occurrence of defects affecting the quality of the printed material prior to numbering and varnishing. 
     
     
       32. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising an intermediate UV-curing unit for curing the printed material, which intermediate UV-curing unit is located along the path of the printed material between the numbering group and varnishing group. 
     
     
       33. The printing press as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the printing press is configured such that the at least first varnishing unit is accessible by an operator from a first working space located upstream of the varnishing group, between the numbering group and the varnishing group, and such that the at least second varnishing unit is accessible by an operator from a second working space located downstream of the varnishing group. 
     
     
       34. A sheet-fed or web-fed printing press for numbering and varnishing of security documents, including banknotes, comprising:
 a numbering group comprising at least one numbering unit for numbering printed material in the form of individual sheets or successive portions of a continuous web carrying multiple security imprints; and 
 a varnishing group located downstream of the numbering group for applying varnish onto recto and verso sides of the printed material, the varnishing group comprising at least a first varnishing unit disposed above a path of the printed material to apply varnish on the recto side of the printed material and at least a second varnishing unit disposed below the path of the printed material to apply varnish on the verso side of the printed material, 
 wherein the varnishing group comprises: 
 a first cylinder or drum located below the path of the printed material and cooperating with the at least first varnishing unit which is disposed above the path of the printed material; and 
 a second cylinder or drum located above the path of the printed material and cooperating with the at least second varnishing unit which is disposed below the path of the printed material, 
 the second cylinder or drum being located immediately after the first cylinder or drum to ensure direct transfer of the printed material from the first cylinder or drum to the second cylinder or drum, 
 and wherein the varnishing group further comprises: 
 a third varnishing unit which cooperates with the first cylinder or drum and is located immediately after the first varnishing unit, and 
 a fourth varnishing unit which cooperates with the second cylinder of drum and is located immediately after the second varnishing unit. 
 
     
     
       35. The printing press as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the first and second cylinders or drums are two-segment cylinders or drums. 
     
     
       36. The printing press as defined in  claim 34 , further comprising at least a first drying unit cooperating with the first cylinder or drum for drying the recto side of the printed material following varnishing by the at least first varnishing unit prior to transfer of the printed material to the second cylinder or drum and at least a second drying unit cooperating with the second cylinder or drum for drying the verso side of the printed material following varnishing by the at least second varnishing unit. 
     
     
       37. The printing press as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the at least first and second varnishing units are designed to apply UV-curable varnish on the recto and verso sides of the printed material and wherein the first and second drying units are UV-curing units.